Plus: Feast on pasta and play bocce at Festa Italiana
 
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49º | Showers | 84% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:50 a.m. | Sunset 4:40 p.m.
 

The healthcare handshake heard ‘round the rose

OHSU and Legacy Health announce plans to merge in 2024
Rain soaks the entrance to Legacy Good Samaritan, a hospital in Northwest Portland.
A new independent foundation will receive Legacy Health’s net cash on hand and investments above its outstanding debt at closing. | Photo by Aboutmovies via Wikimedia Commons
A seismic shift in Portland’s healthcare landscape has been set in motion. Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Legacy Health, two of the city’s five largest healthcare providers, have signed a nonbinding letter of intent to merge.

It’s totally understandable if your heart just skipped a beat. If and when the deal is completed, the combined entity would become the City of Rose’s largest employer, with 32,000 staff on its payroll and 100+ locations (including 10 hospitals) that serve more than 3 million annual patient visits in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Let’s break down the initial details.

How did we get here?

The COVID-19 pandemic (and sluggish recovery) was hard on Portland’s hospitals, especially Legacy Health. In fiscal year 2023, the nonprofit health system lost $172 million, shaking the organization to its core and raising questions about its future. In 2022, OHSU experienced an adjusted operating loss of $90 million, but as a public corporation partially supported by the state, the research university also received close to $573 million in funding, making its financial outlook more stable.

How will this affect patients?

In this arrangement, OHSU will be the surviving institution and commit $1 billion in capital over 10 years to “better enable the combined organization to expand services, including clinical programs, sites of care, technology solutions, and new care models.” It remains unclear whether any hospitals or clinics will shut down, although Legacy Health already announced its plans to offload its lab operations to Labcorp in an effort to right the ship.

What comes next?

More negotiations will follow in the coming months, with the transaction’s planned conclusion in 2024. Will the move’s sizable hold on the market share violate antitrust law? That will be up to regulators to decide.
Share your thoughts
 
Events
Friday, Aug. 18
  • Annual Dahlia Festival | Friday, Aug. 18-Saturday, Sept. 30 | 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | Swan Island Dahlias, 995 NW 22nd Ave., Canby | Free | The country’s largest dahlia grower invites you to explore nearly 50 acres of rainbow blooms with more than 375 varieties and pre-order your favorite to plant at home next spring.
  • Babytooth | Friday, Aug. 18 | 8:30 p.m. | Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside St., Portland | $15 | Join this Portland-based band as they release their album, featuring songs that “explore awareness and distraction, aging and loss, comic relief, the everyday, and how memories inform identity.”
Saturday, Aug. 19
  • Black History Walking Tour | Saturday, Aug. 19 | 1-3 p.m. | Dawson Park, 1 N. Stanton St., Portland | $32 | Oregon Black Pioneers Executive Director Zachary Stocks will lead a two-hour, 2.2-mile loop through the historic Albina neighborhood, discussing the area’s Black-owned businesses, community changes, and civil rights.
  • Rebels on Stage Presents: Queer Cabaret | Saturday, Aug. 19 | 9-11 p.m. | The Big Legrowlski, 812 NW Couch St., Portland | $10-$20 | Watch burlesque, drag, comedy, and more play out on stage from an entirely queer cast.
Sunday, Aug. 20
  • Festa Italiana Portland | Sunday, Aug. 20 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. | Club Paesano, Cedarville Park, 3800 W. Powell Lp., Gresham | $5 | Say ciao to a day of family fun, pasta, vino and gelato, opera and other musical performances, and a bocce tournament.
  • Midtown Beer Garden Grand Re-Opening Party | Sunday, Aug. 20 | 3-8 p.m. | 431 SW Harvey Milk St., Portland | Free | Portland’s oldest and largest food cart pod returns with live music, craft brews, and yummy bites.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
Travel

The cheapest US destinations to fly to, according to travel experts
A plane flying over a blue sky, possibly to a cheap US destination, with palm trees below.
Start dreaming of your next vacation. | Photo by Tom Cattini via Pexels
Our partners at Going search for cheap flights for a living (and then email you about them for free). Check out their list of the cheapest destinations in the US to fly to, including:

No. 3: San Francisco

  • Last year, the Going team found 89 flight deals here.
  • Fun fact: San Francisco International Airport has direct flights from 88 US cities.

No. 2: Los Angeles

  • Going finds ~10 deals per month to LA — like Chicago to LA for $138 roundtrip.
See the No. 1 cheapest place
News Notes
Weather
  • The last time Portland experienced four consecutive 100° days in August was 1981. That wasn’t the only record broken during this week’s heat wave, which officials say could be linked to three deaths they are currently investigating. Monday, Aug. 14, also became the month’s hottest day ever with a high of 108°. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Active
  • Adaptive BIKETOWN, the rental program that increases access to cycling for Portlanders living with mobility challenges, will host a Ride with a Buddy Group Ride, Saturday, Aug. 19, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Various routes will be available during the event, which begins at Kerr Bikes and Boats (next to OMSI).
Listen
  • Fans of The Flaming Lips... “Do You Realize” the opportunity awaiting you at the Heathman Hotel on Tuesday, Aug. 22? Before the psychedelic rock band takes the stage at Pioneer Courthouse Square, you can join a free, four-turntable listening session of their experimental 1997 album “Zaireeka!” while sipping a themed cocktail.
Traffic
  • Southeast Yamhill Street between 74th and 76th avenues has reopened after crews repaired a sewer pipe damaged by a sinkhole. The clay infrastructure, built in 1914 and buried 10 ft deep, was reinforced with a custom 16-in plastic liner that should extend its life by at least 20 years.
Try This
  • Your vintner dreams can become a reality in Vancouver. Willamette Valley Vineyards’ outpost over the river now hosts an experience where you create your own, unique red wine blend. Guests choose between five Walla Walla varietals, adjusting the ratios to their preference. It costs $35 per person and lasts around 20-30 minutes.
History
  • Tillamook Air Museum’s Hangar B, considered “the largest clear span wood structure in the world,” is celebrating its 80th year. Ironically, its future is up in the air. On Saturday, Aug. 19, the Hangar Days Celebration (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) invites people to visit and support. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Arts
  • “Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio” is a new exhibition at the Portland Art Museum exploring the inventiveness + artistic cooperation that help a cinematic vision come to life, with a special focus on the work of the animation artists at Shadowmachine, a renowned stop-motion animation studio based right here in Portland. Get tickets.*
Finance
  • One card, all the perks. A $200 welcome bonus, unlimited cash back, and 0% interest into 2024 all with no annual fee almost sounds too good to be true — but this card has it all.*
Civic

🏛️ This is the way to City Council

Study up on how to run for Portland City Council
Portland's Independent District Commission discusses the final map proposal at a meeting.
Official approval for the selected district map will come during a vote on Monday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. | Photo via city of Portland
On Wednesday, Aug. 16, the Independent District Commission selected the Alder option for Portland’s new voting districts. These quadrants will each elect three City Council candidates for next year’s municipal general election.

With the total number of available seats rising to 12, the Auditor’s Office hopes to raise awareness on how those interested can actually run for office with its candidate guide. Whether you’re familiar with public service or completely new to politics, a lot is changing in Portland’s government. Here are some of the topics the document covers:
  • Qualifications to run for elected office in Portland
  • Important dates, deadlines, and filing requirements
  • Portland’s ranked-choice voting and voting districts
  • Campaign finance rules and regulations
  • Key roles and contacts of state and local elections offices
Leading up to November 2024, the city will host in-person and virtual trainings designed to ensure inclusivity and equitable participation. Sign up for the mailing list to receive notices about workshop dates, times, and locations.
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The Wrap
 

Today’s edition by:
Ben
From the editor
The upcoming Trail Blazers season will look quite different — and I’m not talking about the roster. This year, the NBA will host an in-season tournament for the first time, with a trophy and $18 million in prize money on the line. Rip City will play the Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Los Angeles Lakers.

After watching Oregon legend Sabrina Ionescu win the WNBA’s version — the Commissioner’s Cup — I’m excited for the added hoops drama.
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